Mikaela

In a statement released in Hong Kong it was announced that CMPort will agree to invest an amount of up to USD1,120.00 million (equivalent to approximately HKD8,736.00 million) into Hambantota Port and Hambantota port and marine-related activities, of which the total amount to be paid to SLPA for the acquisition of the 85% issued share capital of HIPG shall be USD973.658 million (equivalent to approximately HKD7,594.53 million) (and HIPG shall use a portion of such amount to acquire 58% issued share capital of HIPS) and the remaining USD146.342 million (equivalent to approximately HKD1,141.47 million) shall be deposited into a bank account in the name of the Company in Sri Lanka and will be utilised for such Hambantota port and marine-related activities as may be agreed with GOSL within one year from the final payment of capital injection in HIPG and the Company shall be entitled to repatriate any amounts in the bank account at the expiration of such one year period if no agreement has been reached with GOSL for the use of such funds. Pursuant to the Concession Agreement, SLPA and GOSL will grant (i) to HIPG, the sole and exclusive right to develop, operate and manage the Hambantota Port and (ii) to HIPS, the sole and exclusive right to develop, operate and manage the Common User Facilities, for the operation of the Hambantota Port. The term of the Concession Agreement shall commence on the Concession Agreement Effective Date of 99 years. During the first 15 years from the Concession Agreement Effective Date, SLPA and GOSL shall ensure that there shall be no, and shall not obtain any fresh tenders, granting any right to any third party, or discuss, negotiate or entering into any arrangement or agreement with any third party in relation to the development of any port/terminal development directly in competition with the port services and activities carried out at the Hambantota Port within 100 km perimeter from the periphery of the Hambantota Port. China says the Hambantota Port has great potential for future expansion, with its hinterland covering the South Asia and East Africa, and as a maritime hub in the region.The Board of China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited announced in Hong Kong that, on 25th July 2017, CMPort, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (“SLPA”), the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (“GOSL”), Hambantota International Port Group (Private) Limited (“HIPG”) and Hambantota International Port Services Company (Private) Limited (“HIPS”) have agreed on the terms of the Concession Agreement in relation to the development, management and operation of the Hambantota Port. China Merchants Group Limited has rich experience and resources in implementing the “Port + Park + City” Model (e.g. Shekou, Zhangzhou). The significant landmass of the project (approximately 11.5km2 port area) gives leeway for the Company to implement and capitalize on the said model to add substantial value to the port operations and development. Furthermore, the Company has also entered into a cooperation framework agreement with China Harbour to explore possible future cooperation and joint development and operation in relation to the Hambantota Port and the industrial park adjacent to the Hambantota Port. As at the terms and conditions for such cooperation is yet to be finalise, the Company said it will further disclose when such cooperation materialises. (Colombo Gazette) “The Port of Hambantota is located on the Southern coast of Sri Lanka occupying a prime location within 10 nautical miles to the main shipping route from Asia to Europe and is also in a strategic position along the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. Hambantota Port is a comprehensive deep-water port, the Hambantota Port project is a project to develop a major industrial and service port with an attached industrial zone in the Port of Hambantota and it is currently expected that the project will comprise of three phases. With 10 berths in Phase 1 and 2, and quay length of up to 3,487 meters; the berths are specialized to handle containers, bulk cargos, general cargos, RO-RO cargos and liquid bulk. Water depth alongside the quay and navigation channel is -17 meters, which makes Hambantota Port a deep-water port capable of handling super-mega vessels. Hambantota Port has great potential for future expansion, with its hinterland covering the South Asian region, and as a maritime hub in the region,” China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited said.CMPort has, in recent years, been actively exploring and, as and when deemed appropriate, capturing available opportunities overseas as the means to effectively add new growth drivers to its existing and sustainably growing ports business. Having already established a story of success in Port of Colombo through the development of the Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd., the addition of the Hambantota Port will provide the Company a platform to materialise synergies between the two major ports in Sri Lanka, unlocking the county’s potential to be a global maritime center.read more

Half of a group of 120 Sri Lankan migrants who arrived on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion two weeks ago were deported early on Monday, officials said, according to the AFP news service.The group of 60, including three women and three children, were flown back to Sri Lanka in a special flight, the island’s prefecture said in a statement. The fishing boat’s three Indonesian crew members have been charged with assisting illegal immigration. Remanded in custody, they are scheduled to appear in court on May 15. Since March 2018, 273 Sri Lankans have arrived on Reunion Island, of whom 130 are still there.They are waiting for OFPRA (the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) to rule on their asylum applications. The group of 120 migrants arrived at Reunion on April 13, having made the 4,000-kilometre trip in a fishing boat. They each paid 2,000-5,000 euros (USD 2,230-USD 5,580) for the crossing. All the others have been sent back to Sri Lanka. “There are clearly illegal immigration networks in operation,” said Frederic Joram, secretary general of Reunion Island’s Prefecture.read more